Predicament.

Emphasis on the sound DICK.

Hiya, hope u'r having better tues, u'r mon sounded manic! Sorry to bother, but what were your thoughts on the hotel w-end? Take care, x

This is my text to Speed earlier today. Before Christmas, we had discussed going away for a weekend and there was one weekend in February that was clear for him. As I was in the airport about to check in for my Dallas flight, he called and said, please do go ahead and book a hotel for that weekend, I think we should go.

So I did when I returned from the US. In fact, I booked two, so that we could chose which one we wanted to go to. Call it a nod to the togetherness theme. One hotel is up north near were he went to school. I thought this would be fun because he could show me this area that he assures me has good memories for him, and see a new part of England for me, and one known for its food at that. The search for good food drives my life. Usually I have to cook it (and I derive immense pleasure from doing so) but sometimes there is a restaurant that creates such an experience too.
Because we are typical Londoners, we have seen each other three times since I left for the US on my Christmas holiday. Back and forth we went, out of each others flight paths, due to holidays and work trips. I have seen him in two phases, Phase One was pre my Roman Excursion consisting of two consecutive dates, and Phase Two being this past Sunday.

On day one of Phase One I mentioned that I had booked us a couple of hotels to chose that weekend. I told him this in the context of him telling me about his upcoming trips and him even inviting me to come along to some. Lovely, but monkey sees as monkey does. Upon mentioning the hotel up north, as well as one in the New Forest, he mentioned how he had a football match up there that weekend and that maybe that was the best choice, and I could come along and watch. Okay sure I said, thinking if it is only a half day work thing, that would not be so bad. I assumed work because this guy works in the world of sports commentating. If he had a football match, then surely that meant talking about it on radio.

Or not. Apparently, I found out on day two of Phase One that said football match was a school mate reunion match. I was in a pub with Speed and a school mate of his, and he suddenly brings up to mate that I had booked a hotel and I am going to come along and watch them. The words watch them made me perk my dainty ears and hear a claxon alarm go off? Mate looked puzzled and looked at Speed and slowly shook his head. I am not sure she would really want to be around all of us boys. Translate: it’s a mate's weekend, no girls aloud. And right enough. I thought he meant work, not oh, come along to my guys weekend.
The next day I left for Rome and he left for another trip thereafter. There was no more discussion of weekend. Uncomfortably, the plans were in a holding pattern. I certainly was not going to go and be the Don't Mind Me chick. And it seems as if he had double booked the weekend. There is only one answer when a double booking occurs: choose one, diss the other. It was the uncomfortable tension in the air. I was not going to tell him what to chose. If a guy has to be bullied into chosing to spend time with me, then he is not worth my time. I was certainly aware that a dating crossroads had been reached. Yet I couldn't tell if he was consciously aware of it himself, or if I was the only one with a A level in human relationships here. I did have the feeling that despite my younger years, I had much more experience.

Sunday's date was ending fast when the topic still had not been brought up. Sigh, I suppose it must be me, the usual suspect for "initiating". Armed with several phrases that I had test driven (to determine honesty, lack of accusation and passive-aggressiveness but with a dash of feminine wile), I said to him, "Oh, don't we need to speak about the hotel weekend? I think I mentioned I had booked two different places. Did you have a preference which one?" You see, this does not give him the opportunity to not chose weekend with me without a large hurdle. It isn't even an option inherent in the question. Nor is the tone accusatory or bullying. His response was, oh yes, well you are right we do need to talk about it; you see, Anthony (mate) was talking to me and since the game would be all afternoon, I really think going up north and doing both isn't really do-able. It is just trying to do to much in one weekend. What do you think?
This man is infuriating because he has yet to make a decision. He always turns it back to me. I said, "I think you are right, it is too much to do. Your time would be too stretched, and I am not too keen on being around for a guys weekend. You and Anthony hit it on the head. So, I guess you need to figure our what the best option for you is going to be." Silence. "okay, why don't you think on it, and let me know Monday, because I need to contact the hotels to confirm."
What I really meant by that last part was, I am giving you till Monday to pick going away with me or else I will not go out on a date with you again; and I need to know asap or else my credit cards get charged. (Asshole).

I sent him a brief email on Monday, hoping to be able to follow up. I got one of those "I am so busy it is such a horrible day" that didn't really invite witty banter. So I had to send this text today. I just heard my phone telling me I received a text. Let's check.
"Yep been thinking about it give us a call when u get out – had a good day today, x"
Is it just me, or do we all know what is going to happen?